Russian Federation alert

This item appears on page 16 of the May 2014 issue.

The US Department of State says that travelers to Russia’s border region with Ukraine, specifically areas in Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh and Rostov Oblasts and Krasnodar Krai, should be aware of the potential for the escalation of tensions, military clashes (either accidental or intentional), increased public demonstrations or other violence in connection with Russian actions in the Crimea. 

Media accounts note a sizable Russian military buildup in those regions plus an increased presence of Russian neo-Nazi and radical nationalist and extremist groups. The US government currently has no information concerning active military conflict inside Russia as a result of regional tensions or of any threat specific to US citizens.